Sunderland might well have closed out their regular campaign in the Championship with a worrying five league defeats on the spin, but heading into the second leg of their playoff affair with Coventry City later on, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats are firmly in the driver’s seat.
Indeed, the promotion hopefuls lead Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues 2-1 on aggregate after a confident display on their travels last time out, with a potentially bouncing Stadium of Light atmosphere tonight seeing them over the line.
Le Bris will further hope he’s the boss that can consolidate Sunderland as a Premier League regular again if promotion is reached, with the Wearside outfit enjoying many a top-flight season previously when Jermain Defoe was heroically leading the line.
Jermain Defoe's heroics at Sunderland
It’s been a long time coming for Sunderland to be on the cusp of a Premier League return, with the Black Cats competing outside the luxuries of the top-flight since 2016.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star would attempt to keep his forlorn side up during the 2015/16 season against all the odds, but not even his regular heroics would be enough to keep the Wearside giants from sinking down despondently to the EFL.
The campaign prior, however, Defoe’s 15-goal haul in the tricky division would be enough for Sunderland to just about avoid relegation in 17th spot, but that same goal tally the season after would unfortunately go to waste.
In total, the firm Stadium of Light fan’s favourite would notch up a century of Sunderland appearances across three seasons, with 37 goals tallied up, definitely making him a standout purchase.
Well, it’s safe to say that as the Mackems potentially approach another campaign in the top-flight, they’ve found their best signing since the iconic Defoe.
Sunderland's best purchase since Defoe
Le Bris has managed to tempt some top-quality personnel to Sunderland since taking charge of the EFL giants, with Wilson Isidor up to 15 goals now from 50 games this season after netting in the first leg away at Coventry.
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While Isidor has certainly shone bright, it’s the remarkable coup of Enzo Le Fee who stands proud as Sunderland’s best signing in recent years.
As it happens, he had a huge role to play in his French compatriot finishing past Ben Wilson with confidence last Friday, with his defence-splitting pass giving Isidor plenty of time to compose himself before firing home.
This sublime moment of quality on such a pressurised stage backs up how much of an outrageous coup it was that Sunderland managed to obtain Le Fee’s services on loan in January, with Defoe also seen as a statement purchase back in 2014, considering his devastating prowess in front of goal in the Premier League was clear for all to see before relocating to the Black Cats.
Le Fee has also displayed his midfield elegance in some grand settings before Sunderland came calling, with the stylish Frenchman once on the desired shopping list of Liverpool off the back of picking up 15 assists on the books of Le Bris’ ex-employers Lorient.
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
0
Assists
1
Touches
43
Accurate passes
17/19 (89%)
Key passes
4
Big chances created
1
The classy 25-year-old would never manage to pull on the famed red strip of Arne Slot’s men, but he certainly looks comfortable donning the red and white of Sunderland at the moment, with the midfielder registering four key passes in total during the first leg win.
Therefore, much like Defoe managed in the Premier League when securing safety for Sunderland, the “really talented” midfielder – as he’s been labelled by his manager – could be as key to Le Bris’ men now as they attempt to leap back up to the big time.
After all, his sensational ability to produce a moment of spellbinding quality in an instant is a hugely effective weapon, particularly if a playoff final to come at Wembley is tense and in need of a game-changing spark.
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